Camp sites and caravan parks are very often set in rural communities away from main sewage networks. Therefore, it’s really important that their owners are fully up to date with the rules and regulations set by the Environment Agency as they could face significant fines if they don’t comply.
There are strict compliance regulations for ammonia, phosphorus, nitrogen and BOD. Sewage needs to be treated and stored to avoid treated effluent leaking into the local environment, reservoirs or estuaries. The birth of the ‘staycation’ has seen caravan and camping sites grow exponentially over the last 2 years, with many of them now staying open all year round.
Equally, many sites have increased their ground space, or decreased their pitch sizes in order to accommodate the growing number of people wanting to holiday with their friends and family in the great outdoors. Especially with the winter season now all but over or nearing the end, families and groups will soon be getting together in these places to enjoy activities and enjoy themselves. With this, will come the need to look after the water supply at these bases.
This increase in footfall will undoubtedly put pressure on the sites’ water supply, waste water drainage and sewage pump systems, and sometimes, if increased demand is placed on such systems, they can simply break down. No-one wants to use a camp site with blocked toilets, broken showers or flooded fields. Customers’ expectations wouldn’t be met and it would be extremely detrimental to the site owners business. Let’s look at 3 key options that camp site owners and caravan parks can take in order to control the flow of their water supply.
Sewage Pump Systems
By installing an on-site sewage treatment pump system, camp sites and caravan parks are able to handle their wastewater much easier. These effectively pump the waste and effluent to the main drainage sewers, which allows the site owner to dispose of the effluent without having to pay for its removal from a septic tank or cesspit. Especially sites that are not connected to main sewer lines, these pump systems can prove to be very beneficial.
The systems are enclosed and treat the effluent, which means that treated water from the sewage plant can flow into a running watercourse, ground water soakaway or in some instances, a storm drain. Not only this, but sewage treatment pumping systems are by far the best environmentally friendly option for camp sites and caravan parks.
Most pump supply companies, likewise to ourselves at Pump Supplies, will survey the site and develop a system that’s appropriate for the size of the ground and the demand on the services. After installation, they will manage the system and be on call, if, heaven forbid, anything went wrong.
Septic Tanks
This type of waste system partially treats the effluent because it only treats the waste at the top of the tank. The process is mainly anaerobic and is much slower to break down the effluent than a complete sewage treatment plant. Septic tanks are large tanks typically located in the ground used for wastewater treatment through the process of biological decomposition and drainage. A septic tank makes use of natural processes & proven technology to treat wastewater from household plumbing produced by bathrooms, kitchen drains and laundry. The same can be said for caravan parks and camp sites.
The biggest issue with Septic Tanks is that they produce a bi-product called hydrogen sulphide. This in turn, produces a foul-smelling odour around the tank. So much so, that many authorities in the UK and Ireland have prohibited their use. They work by collecting the excreta and wastewater in one big underground tank, they are predominantly used in rural areas.
In conclusion, with the increase in demand as more people are using camping sites and caravan parks, it is essential that sewage removal systems are fit for purpose and robust enough to cope with the extra demand. Both of these options are suitable for use, but which is the best one for you?
If you have specific requirements surrounding your place of work or if you own a camp site or caravan park and are thinking of upgrading your systems or need some advice about your system’s capacity, take a look at our website www.pumpsupplies.co.uk. And remember, choosing the right sewage pump systems for camp sites and caravan sites are important and should not be overlooked, this is where the origin or problems can arise.
